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The invention of the Polarized Light Microscope
Using double refraction properties of Iceland spar, William Nicol produced Polarized light and created the Nicol prism, which lead to the microscope since it was able to make microscopic things appear larger through the prism. The invention of this piece of technology was crucial in forensics, and is still used to this day. It gives forensic scientists the opportunity to study microscopic evidence at a crime scene. -
First Presumptive Blood Test
A German scientist named Christian Friedrich Schonbein created the first presumptive blood test. By using hemoglobin to oxidize hydrogen peroxide, he could make it foam to indicate blood. This was important to forensics because it provided a scientific way to confirm that a substance at the scene of a crime was in fact blood, and not anything else. -
First Criminal Fingerprint Identification
After Juan Vucetich created the first method of fingerprint identification, it was used to convict Francisca Rojas who killed her two sons and cut her own throat. She attempted to blame someone else, but it was fingerprint identification that lead to her conviction. This displayed the importance and usefulness of the ability to identify people's unique fingerprints in the context of crime to make sure the correct criminal is identified. -
Kastle- Meyer blood test
In 1901 Joseph Hoeing Kastle invented a new way to detect blood, which was finalized by Erich Meyer in 1903. Phenolphthalein was used to detect hemoglobin which is in blood. The hemoglobin catalyzes the oxidation of phenolphthalein, turning it a bright pink color. This became the new preferred test because now a substance could be indicated as blood without the mess of foaming, so it was much more convenient, and left more blood untouched to be tested. -
The first Crime Lab in the US
The first forensic lab opened in the US was in Los Angeles by chief August Vollmer in the LA Police Department. He understood the importance of reliable evidence, so he established a crime lab with an investigation lab, fingerprint/handwriting classification system, and a system for filing important info on the crime. It created a place for scientists to be able to educate police, and inspired the opening of future crime labs in America. -
Largest US Crime Lab
After the creation of the first crime lab in LA, and the development of the one in Washington DC, the importance of a well organized and comprehensive crime lab became apparent, especially with the many scientific advancements in forensics. This lead to the opening of the largest US Crime lab, the FBI Laboratory. Located in Quantico Virginia, it staffs around 500 scientific experts and agents. The lab is responsible for the analysis of a million pieces of evidence a year. -
Bite Mark analysis is first used in court
Pathologist Keith Simpson used the analysis of bite marks for the first time in court. It was used in the Gorringe case, Robert Gorringe, who murdered his wife, was convicted because a bite mark from the scene matched his teeth. Seeing this new method used in court was an important moment in forensics because it gave investigators another way to identify a suspect from a crime. -
First DNA Profiling Test
Sir Alec Jeffreys creates the first DNA profiling test by studying myoglobin genes and found that repeating sequences could be "highly variable, informative genetic markers." He developed a radioactive probe that could latch to these sequences and show a unique DNA profile. This development lead to the ability to confirm the identity of criminals by matching their DNA with DNA at the scene. This test was a crucial development in the world of forensics for confirming identities of criminals. -
Bite mark analysis accuracy
As forensic science made developments, many types of evidence that were used to convict criminals were found to be inaccurate. A member of the American Board of Odontology did a study and found that bite mark analysis lead to a 63% rate of false identifications. While this study wasn't accepted by all scientists as accurate, it lead to many organizations choosing not to accept bite mark analysis as evidence until it had a more scientific basis to prevent convicting the innocent. -
Advancement in fingerprint identification
A bombing in Madrid lead to a shocking discovery that motivated scientists to find a more accurate method of fingerprint identification. Upon finding a print on a bag full of the explosive supplies, the FBI accused Brandon Mayfield of causing the explosion, until the real terrorist was found in Madrid. They discovered that the two had identical fingerprints, showing the possible inaccuracies of fingerprint identification, and leading to important future tech advancements to prevent that.
